Tamoxifen is given to most women diagnosed with breast cancer to prevent the cancer returning.

But not all women respond to the drug – experts estimate a third get no benefit.

The work in the journal Cancer Research suggests the problem is too much of a gene called FGFR1.

This discovery could lead to new treatments for these women as scientists “switch off” the action of FGFR1, enabling Tamoxifen to work.

The team of scientists in the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research have already shown this is possible in the lab.

They introduced a drug which “switched off” the action of FGFR1.

Once FGFR1 was stopped, hormone-based treatments like Tamoxifen could get back to work in destroying cancer cells, they found.

The researchers believe this could ultimately help thousands of women each year.

They say one in 10 breast cancer patients has too much of the FGFR1 gene.

Dr Nick Turner, who led the research, said: “Understanding how this gene can cause Tamoxifen resistance reveals a new drug target for treating breast cancers in patients who would otherwise have a poor outcome.

“There are a number of drugs in development that stop FGFR1 working, and clinical studies are investigating whether these drugs work against cancers with too many copies of this gene.

“The next step is to set up a clinical trial to see whether a drug that blocks the action of this gene can counteract hormone therapy resistance in breast cancer patients.

“If these trials confirm our lab work we could be on the verge of a potentially exciting new treatment for breast cancer.”

Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK, the charity which helped fund the work, said: “Cracking the problem of resistance to treatments such as Tamoxifen would be a major advance in treating breast cancer.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK affecting more than 45,500 women each year.

Tamoxifen blocks the female sex hormone oestrogen that fuels the growth of some breast tumours.

Eating a pomegranate everyday can help prevent breast cancer, new research reveals. American scientists are saying pomegranates contain chemical agents known as phytochemicals, which play an important role in the prevention of breast cancer.

Scientists at the City of Hope Cancer Research and Treatment Center in Duarte, California, have discovered that the fruit contains a large amount of the phytochemical called ellagitannins. The phytochemical has an inhibitory effect on the enzyme aromatase, which plays a pivotal role in making the hormone oestrogen, which in turn leads to most of the cases of breast cancer. Meanwhile, many patients who suffer from the breast cancer take medicines which are actually aromatase inhibitors.

The research which was published in the journal ‘Cancer Prevention Research’ highlights the fact that laboratory experiments that were carried out took into account around 10 compounds from the pomegranate and their effects were subsequently tested. Among the compounds which were taken into consideration, urolithin B was seen to be the most effective in preventing breast cancer.

However, researcher Shiuan Chen, who was intrinsically involved with the research, emphasized that the compounds did not turn out to be as effective as actual drugs due to which researchers have warned the patients against using the fruit as a replacement of the aromatase inhibitor medicines. At the same time, it has been implied that the results are not conclusive and further tests need to be carried out in order to confirm the findings. However, the findings are being considered to be significant as it might herald a new era in breast cancer treatment.

Read more: Pomegranates and Cancer.

This is a very challenging process for most women.

Many women may suffer depression when they experience iatrogenic hair loss caused by chemotherapy. Partial or radical mastectomies are, of course, more devastating to women.

It requires tremendous emotional strength to go through these processes. One aspect that is distressing is a woman’s appearance and the impact on her body image.

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be a life changing experience. She may discover a lump in her breast while involved in routine activities.
After the lump is removed and a biopsy is performed the doctor may give a diagnosis of breast cancer, Stage I or Stage II breast cancer.

The first thing that a woman might do in these circumstances is to look for other opinions and alternative methods.

Some doctors may suggest the immediate removal of the breast followed by reconstructive surgery.

In any case, the focus of her life has now shifted completed to the cancer and issues to do with surgery and all the implications that a mastectomy may have on her sense of self.

Obviously a woman’s life is more valuable than her breasts. The patient may know this very well but it is very difficult to stop identifying oneself as a woman with certain body. They can’t imagine life without their breasts.

Typically a woman at this point will agree to any needed surgery. After the surgery it can be extremely shocking to wake up and not feel or see their breasts. There is a state of cognitive dissonance.

Breasts are one symbol of femininity. It is a very delicate matter for a person. She may feel insecure or depressed at this point and start worrying about their future relationships with men.

Implants may help but the truth is that they do not feel or look the same. Injections are needed frequently to make the implants expand. Life has changed forever and therapy is indicated to help deal with the emotional difficulties and with self acceptance.

The struggle to reconcile herself with her breasts being removed is only one difficulty she has to face.

Chemotherapy treatment, which usually follows the mastectomy, can be pretty rough and then their is thinning hair – another blow to the body image.

While brushing her hair she may notice it start to fall out.

Some women simply shave their heads so that they don’t have to go through the gradual process of hair loss. Although this is also a trying aspect of breast cancer treatment it is not as devastating as the loss of her breasts.

A woman will often begin to wear a wig or a head scarf or other head covering.

There are a number of emotional and physical challenges of this process. The most important thing is to have the love and support of family and friends.

If breast cancer is treated well, and there is a great deal of support from others as well as self-acceptance, there is nothing stopping a woman from moving on to a new chapter in her life.